AI Prompts for Claude for Investing

Help me define my investing goals before I put any money to work. I will describe my situation: [AGE, INCOME, DEBTS, CURRENT SAVINGS, WHAT I AM SAVING FOR]. Ask me clarifying questions, then produce a goals summary with a timeline for each goal and the rough amount I need to reach it.

I want to understand my actual risk tolerance, not just my theoretical one. Walk me through a series of realistic scenarios: market drops of 10%, 30%, and 50% on different portfolio sizes. Ask how I would likely react and what I would do. Then give me an honest assessment of my risk tolerance and what it means for my asset allocation.

I am investing for [LIST GOALS: RETIREMENT IN X YEARS, HOUSE IN Y YEARS, ETC.]. Explain how different time horizons should affect my investment choices for each goal. Which goals are long enough for equities? Which need stability? Give me a framework I can actually use, not generic advice.

Here is what I currently have in my investment accounts: [LIST HOLDINGS OR DESCRIBE FUNDS]. Help me audit this portfolio. What am I actually exposed to? Are there overlaps? Any obvious gaps? What fees am I paying? Give me a clear picture of what I own before I decide what to change.

Before I invest more money, I want to make sure I understand [CONCEPT: INDEX FUNDS, ETFS, BONDS, DIVERSIFICATION, COMPOUND INTEREST, TAX-ADVANTAGED ACCOUNTS]. Explain this concept as clearly as possible. Then tell me the one thing most beginner investors misunderstand about it.

I am researching [COMPANY NAME / TICKER]. Help me understand the business: how does it make money, who are its main competitors, what are the biggest risks to the business, and what would need to be true for it to grow significantly from here? Do not give me a buy or sell recommendation, just help me think clearly about the business.

I am looking at [FUND NAME / TICKER]. Help me understand what I am actually buying: what index or strategy does it track, what are the top holdings, what is the expense ratio and how much does that cost me over time, and how does it fit into a diversified portfolio?

Help me compare [OPTION A] vs [OPTION B] for someone in my situation: [AGE, GOAL, TIMELINE, RISK TOLERANCE]. Cover: what each one actually is, historical behavior in different market conditions, fees and tax implications, and who each is best suited for. End with the key question I should answer before choosing.

There is a lot of hype right now about [TREND: AI STOCKS, CRYPTO, REAL ESTATE, REITS, COMMODITIES, ETC.]. Help me think critically about this. What is the actual investment case? What has to be true for it to work out? What are the realistic downside scenarios? What do most retail investors misunderstand about it?

Someone is pitching me on [INVESTMENT: A FUND, A STOCK TIP, A REAL ESTATE DEAL, A TRADING STRATEGY, ETC.]. Here is what they told me: [DESCRIBE THE PITCH]. Help me identify any red flags, pressure tactics, or claims that do not hold up to scrutiny. What questions should I ask before I consider putting money in?

Help me design a simple, low-maintenance portfolio for my situation: [AGE, GOALS, TIMELINE, RISK TOLERANCE, MONTHLY AMOUNT TO INVEST]. I want something I can set up and not obsess over. Give me a clear asset allocation with specific fund types (not specific tickers), explain the logic, and tell me how to rebalance it once a year.

I am trying to decide on the right asset allocation for my portfolio. Explain what asset allocation actually means, how it should change as I get closer to my goal, and what the main trade-offs are between different allocations (90/10, 80/20, 60/40, etc.). Give me a concrete starting point based on my situation: [AGE, GOAL, TIMELINE].

Help me understand the tax-advantaged account options available to me: [COUNTRY: US, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, ETC.]. What are the main account types, contribution limits, and tax benefits? Given my situation [INCOME, TAX BRACKET, GOALS], help me think through which accounts to prioritize and in what order.

I have [AMOUNT] to invest and I am debating whether to invest it all at once or spread it out over time. Explain the research on lump sum vs dollar-cost averaging honestly, including what the data shows and what the psychological trade-offs are. Then help me think through which makes more sense given my situation: [CONTEXT].

Here is my current portfolio: [LIST HOLDINGS AND ALLOCATION]. Help me stress-test it. What would happen in a 2008-style crash? What about a prolonged decade of flat returns? What about high inflation? Identify the scenarios where this portfolio would hurt most and whether I have thought through how I would respond.

The market is down [X]% and I am feeling [ANXIOUS / TEMPTED TO SELL / UNSURE WHAT TO DO]. Help me think through this clearly. What does history show about market recoveries? What should I ask myself before making any moves? What are the scenarios where selling now is actually rational vs. where it is a mistake I will regret?

What are the most common behavioral mistakes investors make that cost them returns over time? For each, explain the psychological mechanism behind it and give me a concrete rule or habit to protect against it. I want to invest based on strategy, not emotion.

My target allocation was [X]% stocks / [Y]% bonds/other. It has drifted to [CURRENT ALLOCATION] because [WHAT HAPPENED]. Help me think through whether and how to rebalance. What are the tax implications? Is there a threshold rule I should follow? What is the cost of not rebalancing vs the cost of doing it wrong?

I have been investing with [CURRENT STRATEGY] for [TIMEFRAME] and I am considering changing to [NEW APPROACH] because [REASON]. Help me evaluate this decision honestly. Is my reason for changing sound, or am I reacting to recent performance? What would I need to be confident in before making this switch?

Help me run my annual portfolio review. My goal is [GOAL], my timeline is [TIMELINE], and my current allocation is [ALLOCATION]. Here is what happened this year: [DESCRIBE PERFORMANCE, CONTRIBUTIONS, CHANGES]. What should I check, what should I update, and what questions should I be asking myself once a year to stay on track?